By Caitlin Cruz
An achievement I am proud of was being the highest-performing student in middle school. For this feat, I received a $50 waiver for my classes. This achievement holds a special place in my heart because when I do things even a little wrong, I tend to let it eat away at me and cause a lot of stress and anxiety. Having something tangible that showed me that just because you did a few things wrong doesn’t mean the whole world is going to blow up meant so much to me.
I hadn’t even realized this was something my school did. I really just wanted to do well and have a friendly competition with my best friend, who is basically a genius. Sorcha (my best friend) and I were always seen as the two smartest kids, so we pushed each other in a fun way, like “Haha, I got a better grade than you!” This friendly competition is what helped me achieve this.
Some challenges I faced were getting mental blocks and overthinking things a lot. I got over these challenges by taking a day to just relax and let my brain rest. I would definitely say my best friend pushed me and helped me get through those tough days too. That said, it’s important to be self-aware when doing this kind of thing with a friend because it can quickly turn into a fight that might hurt your friendship.
ASU Prep Digital didn’t play a big role in this achievement since I wasn’t attending this school yet. However, going back to those moments when I felt like I couldn’t do it, I’ve noticed those days became more frequent over time. ASU Prep Digital helps with that now by letting me just focus on school and not other people.
The impact of this achievement was showing myself that I could do it. It also helped me realize that making mistakes doesn’t mean I’m the worst person ever. This affected my personal path by giving me something to strive for again—or something like it.
This is my story of success. Now, I’d like for you to think about something you want to achieve: a small goal, a big goal, or even a goal that might take years to reach. Then, make a plan for how you want to accomplish it. And remember, even if you make mistakes, everything will work out in the end. You’ve got this!
